marketing: One Ridiculously Necessary App for Realtors... and everyone else
- 10/13/11 02:31 AM
Last month we launched a new program, "myFirstAm". In a nutshell, First American has implemented a new system to process title and then did something amazing, they released and end-user version that mirrors our internal system. Our clients can see the progress we're making on their files in real time, receive automatic text and/or email notifications as updates occur, view docs & surveys from prior orders, and more. Very cool and it's free. To get the word out I started the engine and did what almost always works to move a new product; one-on-meetings, phone calls, emails, texts, etc. Something unexpected has happened however... I'm having very slow … (5 comments)
marketing: Take your Pie and Eat it too!
- 08/29/11 04:31 AM
Right now I believe we are riding a real estate wave, with interest rates now at 4.2% on a 30yr fix. For many agents, the party is quickly coming to an end now now that the summer rush is over. This weekend I received two reports indicating the Housing Market continues to shrink and will only tighten over the next several months if not years.
As this market continues to shrink with summer officially coming to a close, we will find ourselves in a challenge if we don’t do something now.
Five years ago while living in Phoenix AZ I … (3 comments)
marketing: Fabulous 5 Apps for Realtors
- 08/23/11 03:58 AM
I do a lot of education related to technology and social media and am therefore often asked, "What are your favorite iPhone apps for real estate. My answer is simple "The ones that save me time and make me money!" Facebook and LinkedIn are a given and I'm particulary fond of LinkedIn's latest update. In no particular order: Bump - remember my blog, "Business Cards Going Dinosaur"... probably not! Rather than exchange business cards you can immediately exchange contact information, request Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, etc connections, and share pictures if desired.
Task Pro - this app allows me to … (6 comments)
marketing: How are you feeling?... a sure fire way to earn customer loyalty!
- 08/04/11 08:04 AM
Upon returning home from work last week I was greeted by my glowing 8-yr old son, "Dad, I just got the best haircut ever". Mom took him to Sports Clips and as it was his first time in they gave him a free "MVP Haircut". He talked about it all night and giggled every time he described the massage and special white towel treatment. Needless to say he sold me. On Monday for lunch I went to SportsClips to see what the hype was all about. The greeting was appropriate, the wait time was 5 minutes. My new stylist "Bern" noticed I … (2 comments)
marketing: Business Cards are Going Dinosaur... Get with Social Media
- 07/26/11 04:53 AM
Three years ago I’m sitting at a bar at a tradeshow having a diet coke. Sitting next to me was a very well dressed woman in her early thirties. I introduced myself, she did the same, and we started some small talk related to the show itself, attendees, and our background. It turns out that we were both scheduled to speak at the event that evening. We had a connection.
We were interested in each other’s perspective and each wanted to know what the other knew. She asked me what my companies toughest sales challenge was. I responded, “Selling value … (4 comments)
marketing: Social Networking taking too much of your valuable time?
- 07/22/11 02:39 AM
The #1 complaint I hear from real estate agents regarding social networking is that it takes too much time. Oh there are plenty of reasons be sceptical of social networking, especially when it's viewed from the perspective that it's Facebook driven. After all, whose client cares where they ate dinner last night? Following are a few tips that I use to help keep my social media time in check: 1) Pick 3 or 4 social networking sites to use as my primary means of communication; Active Rain, LinkedIn, YouTube, and yes, Facebook. 2) Have a business plan and make social networking part … (2 comments)
marketing: Are real estate professionals sales people?
- 07/05/11 07:56 AM
Are real estate professionals sales people? The answer is heck yes, well at least the million dollar realtors are. While interviewing sales candidates I often would ask the question in the interview "what's the first thing that comes to mind when I say salesman?" It is almost frightening how often the answers are negative in nature. The words "manipulative, used car salesperson, dirty, cohersive, cheat, etc." are common in the responses. It's really too bad that such negative connotations are attached to salespeople. Several years ago while working in a direct sales role I had the opportunity to approach a potential … (3 comments)
marketing: Real Estate Sales - Closing the Deal
- 06/24/11 03:48 AM
Several years ago my wife and I decided it was time to upsize our home. Our family had grown from newlyweds and no children to a family of four with more kids on the way. Our three bedroom home, though cute as can be, just wasn't going to cut it anymore. We found a realtor who we exhausted with home searches. She spent countless, patient hours and days helping us to find what we thought would be the last home we ever bought. Our criteria was difficult at best; the best schools, parks and a library closeby were mandatory, 5 bedrooms, open … (2 comments)
Last month we launched a new program, "myFirstAm". In a nutshell, First American has implemented a new system to process title and then did something amazing, they released and end-user version that mirrors our internal system. Our clients can see the progress we're making on their files in real time, receive automatic text and/or email notifications as updates occur, view docs & surveys from prior orders, and more. Very cool and it's free. 
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